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We aimed to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of HTx recipients with a history of pretransplant malignancy (PTM). Among 1062 HTx recipients between 1997 and 2013, 73 (7.1%) patients had PTMs (77 cancer cases). We analyzed post-HTx outcome, recurrence of PTM, and development of de novo malignancies. Post-HTx outcome included overall survival, 10-year survival, 10-year freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE), any treated rejection (ATR), acute cellular rejection (ACR), and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Four most common PTMs were lymphoproliferative disorders (18.2%), prostate cancers (18.2%), non-melanoma skin cancers (18.2%), and breast cancers (13.0%). Median time from PTM and HTx was 9.0 years. During a median follow-up of 8.6 years after HTx, patients with PTM, compared to those without, showed significantly higher incidence of posttransplant malignancies (43.8% vs. 20.8%, p .001) including 9.6% (n = 7) of PTM recurrences. However, patients with PTM, compared to those without, showed comparable overall survival, 10-year survival, 10-year freedom from CAV, NF-MACE, ATR, ACR, and AMR. Therefore, a history of PTM should not disqualify patients from HTx listing, while further research is necessary for early detection of posttransplant malignancies in these patients.

Many pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients reach adulthood and may be interested in family planning; there is little data regarding safety of pregnancy post HT and clinicians' opinions differ. Pediatric HT clinicians are instrumental in early counseling. Thus, a better understanding of pediatric HT clinicians' practices regarding family planning and how well aligned these practices are with adult transplant centers is essential.We conducted a confidential, web-based survey of pediatric HT clinicians in fall 2021. We summarized and compared answers using Fisher's exact test.The survey was sent to 53 United States-based HT directors and to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and Pediatric Heart Transplant Society list serves. There were 69 respondents. The majority (77%) of respondents felt pregnancy was feasible in selected or all female HT recipients. Ten respondents reported that their institution had an established policy regarding pregnancy post HT. A majority (77%) of HT clinicians would either use a shared care model or recommend transition to their adult institution if pregnancy occurred, though 74% of respondents were either unaware of their corresponding adult institution's policy (62%) or had a counterpart adult program with a policy against pregnancy post HT (12%).While many clinicians feel pregnancy is feasible in pediatric HT recipients, there remains significant practice variation. Few pediatric programs have a policy regarding pregnancy post HT. Future efforts to provide consistent messaging between adult and pediatric HT programs regarding the feasibility and care of post HT pregnancy are warranted.

Informed consent plays an integral role in governing the patient-physician relationship with origins traced back to ancient Greek philosophy. The main pillars of informed consent are autonomy, integrity, respect, and care. In the last century, these notions have been codified into legislation to promote healthy patient-physician relationships. Understanding the process of informed consent is critical for patients, researchers, and medical practitioners. In this article, the authors provide a brief historical narrative of informed consent, elaborate on the process of obtaining an ethically and legally valid informed consent, and present some of the future challenges in the field.

ImportanceClinical guidelines for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) strongly recommend treatment with a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) to reduce cardiovascular mortality or HF hospitalization. Nationwide adoption of SGLT2i for HFrEF in the US is unknown.ObjectiveTo characterize patterns of SGLT2i use among eligible US patients hospitalized for HFrEF.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed 49 399 patients hospitalized for HFrEF across 489 sites in the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) registry between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 20 mL/min/1.73 m2, type 1 diabetes, and previous intolerance to SGLT2i were excluded.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPatient-level and hospital-level prescription of SGLT2i at hospital discharge.ResultsOf 49 399 included patients, 16 548 (33.5%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 67 (56-78) years. Overall, 9988 patients (20.2%) were prescribed an SGLT2i. SGLT2i prescription was less likely among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD; 4550 of 24 437 [18.6%] vs 5438 of 24 962 [21.8%]; P P P P Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, prescription of SGLT2i at hospital discharge among eligible patients with HFrEF was low, including among patients with comorbid CKD and T2D who have multiple indications for therapy, with substantial variation among US hospitals. Further efforts are needed to overcome implementation barriers and improve use of SGLT2i among patients with HFrEF.

Background Cardiac amyloidosis is caused by the deposition of misfolded proteins in the myocardium. The majority of cases of cardiac amyloidosis is caused by misfolded transthyretin or light chain proteins. In this case report, we discuss a case of a rare form of cardiac amyloidosis related to beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) in a patient not on dialysis. Case summary A 63-year-old man was referred for workup of possible cardiac amyloidosis. Serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis demonstrated no monoclonal bands, and the serum kappa/lambda light chain ratio was normal, excluding light chain amyloidosis. Bone scintigraphy imaging showed diffuse radiotracer uptake in the myocardium, and genetic testing of the Transthyretin gene was negative for variants. This workup was consistent with wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. The patient, however, later underwent endomyocardial biopsy due to factors inconsistent with this diagnosis, including a young age of presentation and a strong family history of cardiac amyloidosis despite no variants in the Transthyretin gene. This showed B2M-type amyloidosis, and genetic testing of the B2M gene showed a heterozygous Pro32Leu (p. P52L) mutation. The patient underwent heart transplantation with normal graft function 2 years post transplant. Discussion While contemporary advancements allow for the non-invasive diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis with positive bone scintigraphy and negative monoclonal protein screen, clinicians should be aware of rarer forms of amyloidosis where endomyocardial biopsy is required to make the diagnosis.

The "2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure" replaces the "2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure" and the "2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure." The 2022 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with heart failure.A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2020 to December 2020, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant clinical trials and research studies, published through September 2021, were also considered. This guideline was harmonized with other American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines published through December 2021.Heart failure remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The 2022 heart failure guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to managing patients with heart failure, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' interests. Many recommendations from the earlier heart failure guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data. Value statements are provided for certain treatments with high-quality published economic analyses.

Sensitization, defined as the presence of circulating antibodies, presents challenges, particularly in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx) bridged with durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS). We aimed to investigate the post-transplantation outcomes of sensitized MCS patients.Among 889 consecutively enrolled heart transplant (HTx) recipients between 2010 and 2018, 86 (9.7%) sensitized MCS patients (Group A) were compared with sensitized non-MCS patients (Group B, n = 189), non-sensitized MCS patients (Group C, n = 162), and non-sensitized non-MCS patients (Group D, n = 452) regarding post-HTx outcomes, including the incidence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD), 1-year survival, and 1-year freedom from antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).Sensitized MCS patients (Group A) showed comparable rates of PGD, 1-year survival, and 1-year freedom from AMR with Groups C and D. However, Group A showed significantly higher rates of 1-year freedom from AMR (95.3% vs 85.7%, p = 0.02) and an earlier decline in panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels (p0.01) than sensitized non-MCS patients (Group B). Desensitization therapy effectively reduced the levels of PRA in both Groups A and B. When Group A was further divided according to the presence of preformed donor-specific antibodies (DSA), patients with preformed DSA showed significantly lower rates of 1-year freedom from AMR than those without (84.2% vs 98.5%, p = 0.01).Sensitized MCS patients showed significantly lower rates of AMR and an earlier decline in PRA levels following HTx than sensitized non-MCS patients. Removal of MCS at the time of transplantation might underlie these observations.

Advanced heart failure affects tens of thousands of people in the United States alone with high morbidity and mortality. Cardiac transplantation offers the best treatment strategy, but has been limited historically by donor availability. Recently, there have been significant advances in organ allocation, donor-recipient matching, organ preservation, and expansion of the donor pool. The current heart allocation system prioritizes the sickest patients to minimize waitlist mortality. Advances in donor organ selection, including predicted heart mass calculations and more sophisticated antibody detection methods for allosensitized patients, offer more effective matching of donors and recipients. Innovations in organ preservation such as with organ preservation systems have widened the donor pool geographically. The use of donors with hepatitis C is possible with the advent of effective direct-acting antiviral agents to cure donor-transmitted hepatitis C. Finally, further expansion of the donor pool is occurring with the use of higher risk donors with advanced age, medical comorbidities, and left ventricular dysfunction and advances in donation after circulatory death. This review provides an update on the new technologies and transplantation strategies that serve to widen the donor pool and more effectively match donors and recipients so that heart transplant candidates may derive the best outcomes from heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Survival after heart transplant has greatly improved, with median survival now over 12 years. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), has become a major source of long-term morbidity and mortality. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is used for CAV surveillance, but there is limited data on its prognostic utility. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients undergoing SPECT MPI for CAV surveillance at a single, large-volume center. Images were assessed with semi-quantitative visual scoring (summed stress score [SSS] and summed rest score [SRS]) and quantitatively with total perfusion defect (TPD). RESULTS: We studied 503 patients (mean age 62.5, 69.3% male) at a median of 9.0 years post-transplant. During mean follow-up of 5.1 ± 2.5 years, 114 (22.6%) patients died. The diagnostic accuracy for significant CAV (ISHLT grade 2 or 3) was highest for SSS with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.650 and stress TPD (AUC 0.648), with no significant difference between SSS and stress TPD (p=0.061). Stress TPD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.07, p=0.018) was independently associated with all-cause mortality, while SSS was not (p=0.064). The prognostic accuracy of quantitative assessment of perfusion tended to be higher compared to semi-quantitative assessment, with the highest accuracy for stress TPD (area under the receiver operating curve 0.584). CONCLUSIONS: While SPECT MPI identified a cohort of higher risk patients, with quantitative analysis of perfusion demonstrating higher prognostic accuracy. However, the overall prognostic accuracy was modest and alternative non-invasive modalities may be more suitable for CAV surveillance.

Introduction Patients with ambulatory advanced heart failure (HF) are increasingly considered for durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and heart transplantation and their effective triage requires careful assessment of the clinical trajectory. Methods REVIVAL, a prospective, observational study, enrolled 400 ambulatory advanced HF patients from 21 MCS/transplant centers in 2015-2016. Study design included a clinical re-assessment of Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profile within 120 days after enrollment. The prognostic impact of a worsening INTERMACS Profile assigned by the treating physician was assessed at 1 year after the Early Relook. Results Early Relook was done in 325 of 400 patients (81%), of whom 24% had a worsened INTERMACS Profile, associated with longer HF history and worse baseline INTERMACS profile, but no difference in baseline LVEF (median 0.20), 6-minute walk, quality of life, or other baseline parameters. Early worsening predicted higher rate of the combined primary endpoint of death, urgent MCS, or urgent transplant by 1 year after Early Relook, (28% vs 15%), with hazard ratio 2.2 (95% CI 1.2- 3.8; p = .006) even after adjusting for baseline INTERMACS Profile and Seattle HF Model score. Deterioration to urgent MCS occurred in 14% vs 5% (p = .006) during the year after Early Relook. Conclusions Early Relook identifies worsening of INTERMACS Profile in a significant population of ambulatory advanced HF, who had worse outcomes over the subsequent year. Early reassessment of ambulatory advanced HF patients should be performed to better define the trajectory of illness and inform triage to advanced therapies.

BackgroundTransthyretin amyloidosis (TTR) is increasingly implicated as an aetiology of advanced cardiomyopathy. Typically, both genetic variant (TTRv) and wild-type (TTRwt) amyloidosis present with a restrictive phenotype. We present a series of three patients who were found to have cardiac amyloidosis on explant following heart transplant (HT) who had atypical, non-restrictive phenotypes.Case SummaryAll three patients were men, three were Black, and only one had an alternative pre-HT explanation for their advanced, dilated cardiomyopathy. Pre-HT transthoracic echocardiograms were notable for left ventricular (LV) dilation (>95th percentile for height and gender), low EF, and normal LV wall thickness. Explants showed varying amounts of amyloid deposition, ranging from diffuse biventricular patterns to perivascular involvement. Mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of TTRv (two cases) and TTRwt (one case).DiscussionPatients with dilated cardiomyopathy may harbour cardiac amyloidosis. Uncertainty remains regarding the contribution of amyloidosis to the development of a dilated phenotype. The pathogenic Val142Ile variant seen in two of these patients, a variant common in Black patients, suggests a need for further investigation into the potential relationship between TTRv amyloidosis and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Patients with cardiogenic shock may require stabilization with temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) to assess candidacy for definitive therapy, including heart transplantation (HTx) or durable MCS, and/or maintain stability while on the HTx waiting list. We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) vs. Impella [Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA] placement at a high-volume advanced heart failure center. We assessed patients ≥ 18 years who received IABP or Impella support for cardiogenic shock from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. Ninety patients were included, 59 (65.6%) with IABP and 31 (34.4%) with Impella. Impella was used more frequently in less stable patients, as evidenced by higher inotrope scores, greater ventilator support, and worse renal function. While patients on Impella support had higher in-hospital mortality, despite the worse cardiogenic shock in patients for whom clinicians chose Impella support, over 75% were successfully stabilized to recovery or transplantation. Clinicians elect Impella support over IABP for less stable patients, though a high proportion are successfully stabilized. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity of the cardiogenic shock patient population and may inform future trials to assess the role of different tMCS devices.

There are subtypes within blood type A, termed non-A1, that have reduced expression of A antigen on cell surfaces. This can result in the development of anti-A1 antibodies. There is limited information regarding the impact of this in heart transplant (HTx) recipients. We conducted a single-center cohort study of 142 Type A HTx recipients in which we compared outcomes of a match group (an A1/O heart into an A1 recipient or a non-A1/O heart into a non-A1 recipient) with a mismatch group (an A1 heart into a non-A1 recipient or a non-A1 heart into an A1 recipient). At one year post-transplant, there were no differences between the groups in survival, freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiovascular events, freedom from any treated rejection, or freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy. There was an increased hospital length of stay in the mismatch group (13.5 vs. 17.1 days, p = 0.04). Our study showed that A1 mismatch was not associated with worse outcomes at one year post-HTx.

Although the prevalence of HF in young adults (age50 years) is increasing, there are limited data on the trajectory of decongestion and short-term outcomes in young adults with acute heart failure (AHF).We pooled patients from 3 randomized trials of AHF conducted within the Heart Failure Network (the Diuretic Optimization Strategies trial, the Renal Optimization Strategies Trial, and the Cardiorenal Rescue Study in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure). The association between young age (50 years and50 years) and in-hospital changes in various measures of decongestion as well as short-term outcomes including risk for rehospitalization, and all-cause mortality was evaluated.Of 762 patients, 72 (10.3%) patients were young. Young adults were more likely to be African American (53.8% vs 19.3%), to have a lower rate of ischemic HF etiology (25.6% vs 60.4%, p0.001), and a lower burden of hypertension, chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation. Young adults had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (median 20% vs 33%, p0.001); they had a higher admission weight (median 242.7 lbs vs 201.5 lbs, p0.001), but lower NT-pro BNP levels (median 3622 pg/ml vs 4676 pg/ml, p=0.003). After covariate adjustment, there was no difference in the change in NT-pro BNP (p =0.25), net fluid loss (p = 0.42), or renal function (p=0.56) between young and older adults by 72 or 96 hours of randomization. There was no difference in orthodema congestion score or the composite clinical endpoint during the follow-up (all-cause mortality or any rehospitalization) (adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 2.51 (0.78 to 8.01), p= 0.12).In this pooled analysis of 3 clinical trial cohorts, compared with older adults, younger adults had a unique demographic and clinical profile. Despite these differences, there was no difference by age group in in-hospital decongestion or post-discharge readmission or mortality.

BACKGROUND: The valine-to-isoleucine substitution (Val122Ile) is the most common variant of transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis in the U.S., primarily affecting individuals of African descent. This variant has recently been identified in a cluster of White individuals in Italy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical phenotype and chamber performance of Black and White individuals with Val122Ile TTR cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) were compared. Compared to White patients (n=17), Black individuals (n=53) had lower systolic blood pressures (110 vs. 131 mmHg, p

Right heart catheterization is an established cornerstone of advanced heart failure management, as a clear understanding of the patient's hemodynamic status offers insight into diagnosis, prognosis, and management. In this review, the authors will describe the role of right heart catheterization in the diagnosis and management of shock, in the context of left ventricular assist devices, in the assessment of heart transplant candidacy, and also explore future directions of implantable monitoring devices for pulmonary artery and left atrial pressure monitoring.

Background Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a major cause of early mortality following heart transplant (HT). The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) subdivides PGD into 3 grades of increasing severity. Most studies have assessed risk factors for PGD without distinguishing between PGD severity grade. We sought to identify recipient, donor and surgical risk factors specifically associated with mild/moderate or severe PGD. Methods We identified 734 heart transplant recipients at our institution transplanted between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018. PGD was defined according to modified ISHLT criteria. Recipient, donor and surgical variables were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression with mild/moderate or severe PGD as the response. Variables significant in single variable modeling were subject to multivariable analysis via penalized logistic regression. Results PGD occurred in 24% of the cohort (n = 178) of whom 6% (n = 44) had severe PGD. One-year survival was reduced in recipients with severe PGD but not in those with mild or moderate PGD. Multivariable analysis identified 3 recipient factors: prior cardiac surgery, recipient treatment with ACEI/ARB/ARNI plus MRA, recipient treatment with amiodarone plus beta-blocker, and 3 surgical factors: longer ischemic time, more red blood cell transfusions, and more platelet transfusions, that were associated with severe PGD. We developed a clinical risk score, ABCE, which provided acceptable discrimination and calibration for severe PGD. Conclusions Risk factors for mild/moderate PGD were largely distinct from those for severe PGD, suggesting a differing pathophysiology involving several biological pathways. Further research into mechanisms underlying the development of PGD is urgently needed.

Allosensitization represents a major barrier to heart transplantation (HTx). We assessed the efficacy and safety of complement inhibition at transplant in highly sensitized heart transplant recipients. We performed a single-center, single-arm, open-label trial (NCT02013037). Patients with panel reactive antibodies (PRA) ≥70% and pre-formed donor-specific antibodies (DSA) were eligible. In addition to standard of care, patients received nine infusions of eculizumab during the first 2 months posttransplant. The primary composite endpoint was antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) ≥pAMR2 and/or left ventricular dysfunction during the first year. Secondary endpoints included hemodynamic compromise, allograft rejection, and patient survival. Twenty patients were included. Median cPRA and mean fluorescence intensity of immunodominant DSA were 95% (90%-97%) and 6250 (5000-10 000), respectively. Retrospective B cell and T cell flow crossmatches were positive in 14 and 11 patients, respectively. The primary endpoint occurred in four patients (20%). Survival at 1 year was 90% with no deaths resulting from AMR. In a prespecified analysis comparing treated patients to matched control patients, we observed a dramatic reduction in the risk of biopsy-proven AMR in patients treated with eculizumab (HR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.14-0.95, p = .032). Our findings support the prophylactic use of complement inhibition for heart transplantation at high immunological risk. ClinincalTrials.gov, NCT02013037.

Durable mechanical circulatory support (dMCS) devices can be offered as a bridge-to-transplant (BTT) or as a bridge-to-candidacy (BTC) strategy for candidates with contraindications to transplant listing, including pulmonary hypertension (BTC-PH), morbid obesity (BTC-Obes), social issues (BTC-Soc), or chronic illness (BTC-Illness). An understanding of the trajectory of BTC patients could guide future triage of advanced heart failure patients who are not candidates for transplantation. We performed a retrospective review all patients who underwent dMCS implantation as either BTT (206 patients) or BTC (114 patients) at our center from January 1, 2010, to March 31, 2020. There was no significant difference in mortality between BTC patients and BTT patients. Compared with the BTT group, significantly more patients in the BTC-PH group were transplanted (81% vs. 63%; p < 0.05) and significantly fewer patients in the BTC-Obes group (44%; p < 0.05) and BTC-Soc group (39%; p < 0.05) were transplanted. Additionally, the readmission rate was higher for those in the BTC-Obes (6.2 vs. 2.1; p < 0.05) and BTC-Soc (3.9 vs. 2.1; p < 0.05) groups. Bridge-to-candidacy patients generally had poorer post-dMCS trajectories than BTT patients. Centers should not be dissuaded from pursuing a BTC strategy for qualified patients; however, careful consideration of potential adverse outcomes is necessary.

In the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) allocation scheme prior to October 18, 2018, heart transplant (HTx) candidates with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS), or pulmonary artery (PA) catheter inotropic support all received Status 1A priority. In revised scheme, patients with PA catheter and inotropic support are Status 3 after those on ECMO (Status 1) or temporary MCS (Status 2). We examined the impact of the allocation change on HTx candidates listed Status 1A versus Status 3 at a high-volume transplant center.Between January 2017 and January 2021, 75 patients were listed with a PA catheter and inotropic support prior to the allocation change (Era 1) and 48 were listed after (Era 2). Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared for these 123 patients.Heart transplant (HTx) candidates in Era 2 had higher median inotrope doses at listing. There was no significant difference in inpatient wait list days (12 vs. 20 days, P = .15), transition to temporary MCS (33.3% vs. 22.7%, P = .15), or wait list mortality (6.3% vs. 4.0%, P = .68). There was also no significant difference in survival to transplantation (91.7% vs. 94.7%, P = .71). There were no differences in post-transplant outcomes including 1-year survival (88.6% vs. 93.0%, P = .38).At a high-volume transplant center, the UNOS allocation change did not result in increased wait list time, use of temporary MCS, or mortality on the waitlist or post-transplant for candidates on inotropic support with continuous hemodynamic monitoring.

Background: Patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction often cannot tolerate target doses of guideline-directed medical therapy due to symptomatic hypotension, renal dysfunction, and associated electrolyte abnormalities. While levosimendan can facilitate the titration of β-blockers in patients with advanced HFrEF, it is unclear whether ambulatory levosimendan infusions would offer the same benefit. In this prospective study, we investigate the effects of intermittent ambulatory levosimendan infusions on the uptitration of disease-modifying drugs. Methods: We enrolled 37 patients with advanced HFrEF who received repeated ambulatory infusions of levosimendan between January 2018 and January 2021. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were acquired 24 h before the first and the last ambulatory levosimendan infusion. Results: At the 1 year follow-up, the enrolled patients were on significantly higher doses of guideline-directed medical therapy, including bisoprolol (3.2 ± 2.8 mg vs. 5.9 ± 4.1 mg; p = 0.02), sacubitril/valsartan (41.67 ± 32.48 mg vs. 68.5 ± 35.72 mg; p = 0.01), and eplerenone (12.7 ± 8.5 mg vs. 22.8 ± 13.6 mg; p = 0.03). Furthermore, a substantial decrease in the furosemide dose was observed (123.2 ± 32.48 mg vs. 81.6 ± 19.47 mg; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Levosimendan facilitates the optimization of disease-modifying heart failure medications in previously intolerant advanced HFrEF patients.

Heart failure (HF) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) frequently coexist; 1 comorbidity worsens the prognosis of the other. HF is responsible for almost half the deaths of patients on dialysis. Despite patients' with ESKD composing an extremely high-risk population, they have been largely excluded from landmark clinical trials of HF, and there is, thus, a paucity of data regarding the management of HF in patients on dialysis, and most of the available evidence is observational. Likewise, in clinical practice, guideline-directed medical therapy for HF is often down-titrated or discontinued in patients with ESKD who are undergoing dialysis; this is due to concerns about safety and tolerability. In this state-of-the-art review, we discuss the available evidence for each of the foundational HF therapies in ESKD, review current challenges and barriers to managing patients with HF on dialysis, and outline future directions to optimize the management of HF in these high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND Myocarditis is an inflammatory process that can present as acute or chronic with either focal or diffuse involvement of the myocardium. Its incidence is approximately 1.5 million cases per year worldwide. In the United States, viral infection is the most common cause of myocarditis. Most of the reported cases are singular and self-limiting in nature. We present the case of severe recurrent myocarditis in a young adult who was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. CASE REPORT An 18-year-old man presented with chest pressure and troponin I 33 ng/mL. He had presented to another hospital with similar symptoms 3 months prior and was diagnosed with myocarditis that had resolved with colchicine. As part of his workup during this admission, coronary angiogram was normal and biopsy obtained without evidence of an inflammatory process; however, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was consistent with myocarditis and Coxsackie B titers indicated prior infection, leading to a diagnosis of clinically suspected recurrent viral myocarditis. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IV Ig) and a steroid taper, with rapid improvement in symptoms over the ensuing weeks without evidence of further recurrence or sequelae. CONCLUSIONS We present a case of recurrent Coxsackie B myocarditis based on presentation and imaging. Myocarditis is an important diagnosis to consider when a young, healthy individual presents with chest pain mimicking acute coronary syndrome, especially during the COVID pandemic. If there is evidence of myocarditis on MRI or endomyocardial biopsy, immunosuppressive therapy should be considered in patients with recurrent and severe presentations.

As post-transplant survival improves, many heart transplant (HT) recipients are of, or are surviving to, childbearing age. Solid-organ transplant recipients who become pregnant should be managed by a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team, including specialists in maternal and fetal medicine, cardiology and transplant medicine, as well as anesthesia, neonatology, psychology, genetics, and social services. With careful patient selection, pregnancy after HT can been managed safely. The purpose of this comprehensive review was to summarize the current evidence and recommendations surrounding preconception counseling, medical management and surveillance, maternal outcomes, breastfeeding, and remaining gaps in knowledge.

The incidence of heart failure (HF) remains high and patients with HF are at risk for frequent hospitalisations. Remote monitoring technologies may provide early indications of HF decompensation and potentially allow for optimisation of therapy to prevent HF hospitalisations. The need for reliable remote monitoring technology has never been greater as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid expansion of a new mode of healthcare delivery: the virtual visit. With the convergence of remote monitoring technologies and reliable method of remote healthcare delivery, an understanding of the role of both in the management of patients with HF is critical. In this review, we outline the evidence on current remote monitoring technologies in patients with HF and highlight how these advances may benefit patients in the context of the current pandemic.